Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today voted against the Webb Amendment to the Senate Defense Authorization bill.

The amendment was a power-grab which sought to take the responsibility of setting troop rotation schedules away from the military and President and give it to the Congress.  War opponents have touted the amendment as one means of ending the troop surge in Iraq.

The vote failed by a vote of 56-44.  Sixty votes were required to move forward

“The Webb amendment intended to take care of the troops.  I don’t question anyone’s intent, but if you really want to take care of the troops let them win.

“The Webb amendment was one of the more ill-advised approaches to fighting the War on Terror.  It was a historic constitutional infringement on the power of the Commander in Chief allowing Congress to micromanage troop rotations and deployments.  The amendment would have hurt the brave young men and women fighting the War on Terror and set a terrible precedent for fighting future conflicts.

“The last thing in the world we should do to our troops -- particularly in the name of helping them -- is to put 535 Members of Congress in charge of troop rotations as we fight the War on Terror.  With an approval rating below 20 percent, Congress has not risen to the level of being visionary leaders.

“The Webb amendment was a back door attempt to stop the war in Iraq by restricting the available manpower.    I’m very pleased the Senate rejected this ill-advised amendment.”

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Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417

• The surge has clearly worked.  The idea of withdrawing troops because of political posturing in Washington will undercut our successes.

• If we arbitrarily withdraw troops, we will lose the gains that have been made.  We have Al Qaeda on the run and they have been driven out of Anbar Province.  The Sunnis in Anbar turned against Al Qaeda as they did not like living under their control.  It was a huge event both for the future of Iraq and our own national security.

• General Petraeus has clearly defined the outcome of the War in Iraq in terms of our national interests.  There’s no doubt it is in our own national security interests to have a stable, secure Iraq. 

• If Iraq fails and breaks apart Al Qaeda could reemerge and use it as a safe haven.  There could be a war between the Kurds and Turks in the north of Iraq.  We could have a Sunni-Shia civil war spread throughout the Middle East.  And Iran, led by a ruthless, brutal, and very dangerous man, could dominate parts of Iraq.  Each of these outcomes poses dangers to our own national security.

“We should continue to allow General Petraeus and the troops to execute their mission.  Together they have done a wonderful job brining about a level of security and success which has not been achieved before. 

“In the Senate, I will continue to fight any effort which undercuts the ability of General Petraeus to maneuver and execute the military operations as he sees fit.”

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Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) called a full page Moveon.org advertisement in today’s New York Times ‘disgusting’ and wrote a bipartisan letter co-signed by 31 senators encouraging Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid to repudiate the ad.

The Moveon.org ad titled, ‘General Petraeus or General Betray Us?’ says General Petraeus, “is a military man constantly at war with the facts.”  The ad smears the Commanding General in Iraq by concluding that, “Today, before Congress and before the American people, General Petraeus is likely to become General Betray Us.’

“The ad is sick and disgusting,” said Graham.  “General Petraeus is a distinguished military leader and should be treated with respect.  To suggest he would come before Congress and not give us his honest assessment of the situation on the ground in Iraq flies in the face of who he is and the responsibility on his shoulders.”

General Petraeus began what is expected to be two days of difficult questioning before members of the House and Senate on progress in Iraq.

In a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid, the 31 senators called the ad, “distasteful and frankly, below the level of respect that America’s commanding general in Iraq has earned.  No matter whether any senator supports or opposes the war in Iraq, we should all voice recognition and appreciation of General Petraeus’ long and distinguished record of service to our country.”

The senators asked Reid to join them in making clear, “that you do not share the views of Moveon.org and that you will not join Moveon.org in attacking the character of this fine officer.”

“It is important that all officials in positions of responsibility speak out and defend General Petraeus as the honest and honorable military leader he is.  From his years of service to our country and the important position he currently holds, he has certainly earned it.

“The future of America's involvement there is of paramount importance to our country and, while we believe fervently in the right of free speech, we also believe that it is possible and proper to conduct this debate without besmirching our brave men and women in uniform.”

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Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of 31 senators have written to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) calling on him to repudiate the ad today by Moveon.org in the New York Times calling David Petraeus, Commanding General of Multi-National Forces Iraq, ‘General Betray Us.’

“Senator Reid, please join us in making it clear that you do not share the views of Moveon.org, and that you will not join Moveon.org in attacking the character of this fine officer,” wrote the Senators.  “It is important that all officials in positions of responsibility speak out and defend General Petraeus as the honest and honorable military leader he is.  From his years of service to our country and the important position he currently holds, he has certainly earned it.”

The letter was circulated by Senator Lindsey Graham and signed by Senators Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Norman Coleman, Jim DeMint, Jon Kyl, Charles Grassley, Kit Bond, Bob Corker, Mel Martinez, Richard Burr, Johnny Isakson, Susan Collins, Wayne Allard, Judd Gregg, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Mike Enzi, Saxby Chambliss, Lamar Alexander, Pat Roberts, David Vitter, John Barrasso, Pete Domenici, Sam Brownback, Jeff Sessions, John Cornyn, Olympia Snowe, Sam Brownback, Elizabeth Dole, John Warner, and John Ensign.

“The ad is distasteful and frankly, below the level of respect that America's commanding general in Iraq has earned,” wrote the Senators.  “No matter whether any senator supports or opposes the war in Iraq, we should all voice recognition and appreciation of General Petraeus' long and distinguished record of service to our country.

“The future of America's involvement there is of paramount importance to our country and, while we believe fervently in the right of free speech, we also believe that it is possible and proper to conduct this debate without besmirching our brave men and women in uniform.”

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